Zlín

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A symbol of functionalist architecture and 20th-century industrial ingenuity, Zlín is unlike any other city in the Czech Republic. Built around the legacy of the Baťa shoe empire, it is a living showcase of urban design, entrepreneurial history, and forward-thinking infrastructure. Today, Zlín is a standout destination for design summits, innovation forums, educational congresses, and creative industry events.

Zlín’s defining feature is its uniform modernist architecture—a city built with intention. The Baťa Skyscraper (Building No. 21), once one of Europe’s tallest buildings, is now a working office tower and event venue, with panoramic views and movable offices that double as meeting spaces. The Baťa Institute 14|15, a refurbished factory complex, houses museums, galleries, and libraries, making it ideal for design conferences, startup expos, film screenings, and visual arts programs.

Zlín is also a university city, with Tomas Bata University providing contemporary auditoriums and conference halls that support multidisciplinary summits, academic research symposia, and business-education collaborations. The city’s Film School and history in animation make it especially suited for film festivals, creative residencies, and new media showcases.

The city’s public spaces—clean, well-planned, and scalable—are ideal for public design installations, architecture tours, and city-based think tanks. Green areas, wide boulevards, and nearby forest parks offer opportunities for urban wellness programming or outdoor cultural events.

Zlín’s design ethos carries through to its hotels, restaurants, and event venues, many of which have been restored with Bauhaus precision. The Zlín Film Festival, the oldest of its kind for children and youth, provides an excellent platform for cultural planners seeking to align with established programming.

Zlín is best suited to innovation and enterprise events, architectural and design forums, educational exchange programs, and modernist cultural explorations. For planners wanting a location with clarity, vision, and urban coherence, Zlín delivers not just function—but a philosophy.